Charlie Cotton is heading back to EastEnders and Max Branning looks set to be the one to engineer it as he confides in Dot that Jack isn’t coping well with looking after the kids. And when he brought up Charlie’s name and speculated that it could benefit Jack for Charlie to come back for Matthew, Dot was given food for thought.

Recently released pictures confirmed that a return is on the horizon for the character, who previously disappeared from Walford after threats from Ronnie Mitchell. But could Jack be about to lose Matthew to his real father – and will Max be to blame?

(Picture: BBC)

As manipulative Max left Dot worried for Jack, he even passed it off as if it were her idea so as to evade blame for whatever is to come but as Dot ponders over whether to contact Charlie, it remains to be seen how his return comes bout – and what the consequences will be.

(Picture: BBC)

But one thing’s for sure – Jack certainly won’t thank Max for this interference.